Laos has a debt problem. By some estimates, the country’s public debt has swelled to more than $15.9 billion, exceeding its GDP. And ballooning debt is simply the most striking symptom of a wider, pro…
Investment
The Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone, Explained
An agreement on the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) was announced in early January, after several months of negotiations. The project encompasses a large part of the southern Malaysian …
The Quad Under Trump 2.0: Early Signs of Shift Amid Continuity
One of the Trump administration’s first foreign policy acts, less than a day after the inauguration, was convening the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (FMM) on January 21. The FMM involved wide-rangin…
Vietnam-Russia nuclear energy deal signed
Russia and Vietnam signed a memorandum of understanding on developing nuclear energy cooperation during a two-day visit by the Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin to Hanoi for talks with Vietname…
How a flood of finance for sustainable seafood could help save the ocean
Aquaculture is a leading contributor to the failing health of the ocean. Shrimp ponds in Lombok, Indonesia, have devastated climate-critical mangrove forests and contaminated the groundwater. Seaweed …
Malaysia positions for AI-driven economy
Boasting a young, mobile savvy population, widespread internet penetration and relative political stability, Southeast Asia (SEA) has emerged as a prime foreign direct investment (FDI) destination in …
100 Days of Prabowo-Gibran: Opportunities to Accelerate Indonesia’s Energy Transition
The administration of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka will complete 100 days on January 28, 2025. The Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR) believes that …
Cambodia likely to gain from Trump tariffs
Cambodia is expected to benefit from US President Donald Trump’s focus on imposing tariffs against China and possibly also Vietnam to address bilateral trade imbalances, Mekong Strategic Capital says.…
World’s largest port handlers eye big investment in Bangladesh
DP World and AP Moller-Maersk, the two major port handlers in the world, have expressed their keen interest in making big investments in Bangladesh’s shipping industries to help the country buil…
President Wraps Up 3rd Day of China Visit with $3.7 Billion Landmark Investment
On the third day of his state visit to China, President Anura Kumara Disanayake participated in several significant discussions aimed at bringing tangible benefits to Sri Lanka. Accordingly during a s…